Dual image manifestation apparatus with integrated electro-optical package

Abstract

Dual image manifestation apparatus including real image generation means mounted on a mounting structure for providing at least one real image, a low magnification optical system supported on the mounting structure to receive the image at an optical input and provide a magnified image directly viewable at an optical output, and a high magnification optical system supported on the mounting structure to receive the image at an optical input and provide an enlarged virtual image at an optical output. Electrical connections for the image generation means are provided through the mounting structure. The apparatus is designed for operation with pagers, cellular telephones, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package comprising: a mounting structure;   real image generation means mounted on the mounting structure for providing at least one real image;   a low magnification optical system supported on the mounting structure to receive the one real image at a low magnification optical input and provide a magnified real image directly viewable at a low magnification optical output; and   a high magnification optical system supported on the mounting structure to receive the one real image at a high magnification optical input and provide an enlarged virtual image at a high magnification optical output.   
     
     
       2. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the low magnification optical system magnifies received real images less than approximately 10× and the high magnification optical system magnifies received real images more than approximately 10×. 
     
     
       3. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting structure includes optically clear plastic material molded into a desired shape. 
     
     
       4. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the real image generation means includes an image generator with a substrate mounted on the mounting structure, the image generator further including a two dimensional array of light emitting devices formed on the substrate and cooperating to generate a complete real image, the light emitting devices being positioned in rows and columns to define all pixels of the real image and operably connected to connection/mounting pads adjacent outer edges of the substrate. 
     
     
       5. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the real image generation means further includes a plurality of driver circuits having terminals and connected to the light emitting devices through the terminals and the connection/mounting pads on outer edges of the substrate. 
     
     
       6. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plurality of driver circuits include at least one integrated circuit mounted on a support structure and the terminals are formed in the support structure and electrically connected to the integrated circuit through leads formed in the support structure. 
     
     
       7. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support structure includes a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       8. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 7 wherein the printed circuit board of the support structure is formed of FR4 material. 
     
     
       9. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 6 wherein the mounting structure includes plastic material molded into an optical portion and an electrical portion with at least the optical portion being formed of optically clear plastic. 
     
     
       10. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 9 wherein the electrical portion of the mounting structure includes a plurality of mounting terminals having the terminals of the driver circuit support structure physically and electrically attached to a first group of the plurality of mounting terminals. 
     
     
       11. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrical portion of the mounting structure further includes leads extending from a second group of the plurality of mounting terminals to the first group of the plurality of mounting terminals, the second group of the plurality of mounting terminals being positioned adjacent the optical portion of the mounting structure and having the connection/mounting pads of the substrate of the image generator physically and electrically attached thereto. 
     
     
       12. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 9 wherein the optical portion includes an optical waveguide having an optical waveguide input and at least one optical waveguide output, with the optical waveguide being positioned to receive the real image from the image generation means at the optical waveguide input and direct the real image to the optical waveguide output. 
     
     
       13. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 12 wherein the optical waveguide includes optical elements positioned to receive the image and provide magnification. 
     
     
       14. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 13 wherein the optical elements include reflective surfaces. 
     
     
       15. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 13 wherein the optical elements include a diffractive lens. 
     
     
       16. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 13 wherein the optical waveguide includes two optical waveguide outputs and an optical element positioned to direct the image received at the optical waveguide input to one of the two optical waveguide outputs. 
     
     
       17. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 including in addition a communications device connected to the real image generation means for supplying video signals to the real image generation means. 
     
     
       18. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 17 wherein the communications device includes one of a pager, a two-way radio, and a cellular telephone. 
     
     
       19. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the real image generation means includes a pair of image generators mounted on the mounting structure, each of the pair of image generators including a two dimensional array of light emitting devices formed on a substrate and cooperating to generate a pair of separate and complete real images, the light emitting devices being operably connected to connection/mounting pads adjacent outer edges of the substrate of each of the pair of image generators. 
     
     
       20. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the real image generation means includes an image generator mounted on the mounting structure with a two dimensional array of light emitting devices formed thereon and cooperating to generate a complete real image, the light emitting devices being positioned in rows and columns to define all pixels of the real image and operably connected to connection/mounting pads adjacent outer edges of the mounting structure, and the real image generation means further includes optics with a single optics input and first and second optics outputs, the optics are supported on the mounting structure so that the one real image from the image generator is in communication with the single optics input, the first optics output is in communication with the low magnification optical input of the low magnification optical system, and the second optics output is in communication with the high magnification optical input of the high magnification optical system. 
     
     
       21. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the high magnification optical system is movable between an operative and an inoperative position, the high magnification optical system being supported on the mounting structure to receive the one real image from the low magnification system in the operative position and provide an enlarged virtual image at the high magnification optical output. 
     
     
       22. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package comprising: a mounting structure;   real image generation means mounted on the mounting structure for providing first and second real images;   a low magnification optical system supported on the mounting structure to receive the first real image at a low magnification optical input and provide a real image directly viewable at a low magnification optical output; and   a high magnification optical system supported on the mounting structure to receive the second real image at a high magnification optical input and provide an enlarged virtual image at a high magnification optical output.   
     
     
       23. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 22 wherein the real image generation means includes an image generator mounted on the mounting structure with a two dimensional array of light emitting devices formed thereon and cooperating to generate a complete real image, the light emitting devices being positioned in rows and columns to define all pixels of the real image and operably connected to connection/mounting pads adjacent outer edges of the mounting structure. 
     
     
       24. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 23 wherein the real image generation means includes an optical waveguide affixed to the mounting structure and having an optical waveguide input and first and second optical waveguide outputs, with the optical waveguide being positioned to receive the real image from the image generation means at the optical waveguide input and direct the real image to the first and second optical waveguide outputs. 
     
     
       25. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 24 wherein the optical waveguide includes optical elements positioned to receive the real image and provide magnification. 
     
     
       26. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 25 wherein the optical elements include reflective surfaces. 
     
     
       27. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 25 wherein the optical elements include a diffractive lens. 
     
     
       28. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 24 wherein the optical waveguide includes an optical element positioned to direct the image received at the optical waveguide input to one of the first and second optical waveguide outputs. 
     
     
       29. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package comprising: a mounting structure having a plurality of terminals and mounting pads;   direct view image manifestation apparatus including a first image generator mounted on the mounting structure with a two dimensional array of light emitting devices formed thereon and cooperating to generate a complete real image, the light emitting devices being positioned in rows and columns to define all pixels of the real image and operably connected to connection/mounting pads adjacent outer edges of the first image generator, the connection/mounting pads being physically and electrically attached to the terminals and mounting pads of the mounting structure,   a first plurality of driver circuits mounted on the mounting structure and connected to the light emitting devices of the first image generator through the terminals and mounting pads on the mounting structure, and   a first lens system fixedly mounted relative to the mounting structure and the first image generator to receive and magnify the real image and produce an easily viewable direct view, real image; and     virtual image manifestation apparatus including a second image generator mounted on the mounting structure with a two dimensional array of light emitting devices formed thereon and cooperating to generate a complete real image, the light emitting devices being positioned in rows and columns to define all pixels of the real image and operably connected to connection/mounting pads adjacent outer edges of the second image generator, the connection/mounting pads being physically and electrically attached to the terminals and mounting pads of the mounting structure,   a second plurality of driver circuits mounted on the mounting structure and connected to the light emitting devices of the second image generator through the terminals and mounting pads on the mounting structure, and   a second lens system fixedly mounted relative to the mounting structure and the second image generator to receive and magnify the real image and produce an easily viewable virtual image.     
     
     
       30. Dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 29 wherein the mounting structure includes first and second removeably attached portions with the first image generator, the first plurality of driver circuits and the first lens system being mounted on the first portion and the second image generator, the second plurality of driver circuits and the second lens system being mounted on the second portion. 
     
     
       31. A method of fabricating dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package comprising the steps of: providing a mounting structure;   forming real image generation means for providing at least one real image, and mounting the real image generation means on the mounting structure;   supporting a low magnification optical system on the mounting structure so as to receive the one real image at a low magnification optical input and provide a magnified real image directly viewable at a low magnification optical output; and   supporting a high magnification optical system on the mounting structure so as to receive the one real image at a high magnification optical input and provide an enlarged virtual image at a high magnification optical output.   
     
     
       32. A method of fabricating dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 31 wherein the step of providing a mounting structure includes molding optically clear plastic material into a desired shape. 
     
     
       33. A method of fabricating dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 32 wherein the step of providing a mounting structure includes molding electrical leads into the mounting structure. 
     
     
       34. A method of fabricating dual image manifestation apparatus with an integrated electro-optical package as claimed in claim 32 wherein the step of providing a mounting structure includes molding optical elements into the mounting structure.